Lester F. Morse & Beatrice R. Morse Memorial Fund

When Elizabeth Wyman, only child of Lester F. and Beatrice R. Morse, did her estate planning, she honored her parents’ memories with a permanent endowment to support Easter Seals Rhode Island.

Born in Warwick in 1893, Lester Morse spent his entire professional career at Gorham Manufacturing

Company, an association that spanned 57 years. Beginning in 1910, he climbed the corporate ladder to accountant, assistant treasurer, treasurer, and vice president, as well as director of the corporation –

including terms as its secretary, treasurer, and vice president. He retired from the Providence-based silver manufacturer in 1959, but continued as a director until a year before his July 1968 death at age 74.

According to his Providence Journal obituary, Mr. Morse was a member of the Turks Head Club, Rhode Island Country Club, and Harmony Lodge AF & M, Cranston, where he was a 32nd degree Mason. He also was a director of Cranston’s William H. Hall Library, Smith Hill Girls Club, and the Jewelers Board of Trade, the latter including a term as president during his 22-year tenure.

Beatrice (Birtwistle) Morse was born in Providence in 1899 and lived in Cranston most of her life. She was a member of the Elmwood Club, Edgewood Women’s Club, Auburn Library Club, and Church of the Transfiguration, according to her November 1976 Providence Journal obituary.

Kenneth Birtwistle, whose grandfather was Mrs. Morse’s brother, has only vague memories of the Morses. But within the family documents, he uncovered a citation that Mrs. Morse received from the Department of War, Office of the Chief of Ordinance, noting that she had “faithfully served” from September 13, 1917 through January 29, 1919. No additional details of her service are known.

Nor is it known, by either Mr. Birtwistle or Easter Seals Rhode Island, why that organization was designated as the beneficiary of this endowment. “Lester may have been familiar with it through his work with Gorham or it may have been one of Betty’s pet charities,” Mr. Birtwistle surmises.

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